Bartolo Colon Hopes To Pitch For Mets In 2017

Bartolo Colon may be 43 years of age (44 next May), but the right-hander has no intention of calling it a career after the season and tells ESPN New York’s Adam Rubin that his ideal scenario would be to re-sign with the Mets as a free agent. “If they gave me the opportunity, I would be delighted to come back,” Colon said though his interpreter.

At one point, the notion of Colon returning to the Mets might’ve seemed like a stretch, as New York had built up a vaunted stockpile of enticing young arms. Entering the season, as Rubin reminds, Colon was only supposed to work out of the rotation until Zack Wheeler had recovered from 2015 Tommy John surgery. However, Wheeler won’t pitch in the Majors this season, Matt Harvey has undergone surgery to alleviate thoracic outlet syndrome, Steven Matz is dealing with a bone spur in his left elbow and now a shoulderimpingement, and Noah Syndergaard is also dealing with a more minor spur in his right elbow. Jacob deGrom, meanwhile, is set to miss multiple starts due to forearm soreness.

Right-hander Seth Lugo has stepped up and been a godsend for the Mets recently, pitching to a 2.38 ERA in 41 1/3 innings (four starts, nine relief appearances), and if he can finish out the season with anywhere near that level of success, he’ll enter the 2017 campaign as an excellent safety net. However, given the plethora of injuries facing the Mets’ ballyhooed young starters, adding another insurance policy in the form of the veteran Colon, who is beloved among fans and teammates alike, certainly carries some merit.

The timeless Colon hasn’t pitched like a man whose years are beginning to catch up to him in 2016. His age-43 campaign, in fact, has been his best season yet with the Mets. In 158 2/3 innings, Colon is sporting a 3.35 ERA with 6.0 K/9, 1.6 BB/9 and a 43.8 percent ground-ball rate. His four-seamer’s velocity is down from 90.3 mph to 89.7 mph, but there’s little difference in the velocity of the two-seam fastball upon which he relies so heavily (87.2 mph in 2015; 87.0 mph in 2016). While some detractors might point out that Colon is averaging just 5.8 innings per start after averaging 6.2 and 6.5 per start, respectively, in 2015 and 2014, his 2016 number is weighed down by a June 21 outing in which he exited after one batter after being hit on the hand by a line drive. Subtracting that appearance from the equation, Colon is averaging a hair over six innings per outing — once again demonstrating an ability to work reasonably deep into games on a regular basis.

The 2017 season would represent the 20th season in Colon’s storied Major League career and, as Rubin notes, bring him within arm’s reach of Juan Marichal’s 243 wins — a record among Dominican-born hurlers — as well as Dennis Martinez’s 245 wins — the all-time record for a Latin American pitcher. “…if I caught up to either of those, it would be very meaningful,” said Colon.

I don’t think Gsellman and Lugo’s short-term success should change any opinions. There’s so much uncertainty in the Mets rotation. I would love to have Colon back next year. He’s been the only fully healthy (ignoring that one-batter start, since he came back the next start) starting pitcher all year for the Mets. Gsellman and Lugo have pitched fine but I don’t think they even have 75 combined innings on the big league club yet, and weren’t like deGrom where they tore up the minors. Good starts happen all the time. If they can make their runs last the rest of the season in a sustainable way I might be willing to concede they’ll be good. But as of now I would definitely bring back Bartolo.

DID YOU EVEN READ THE DAMN ARTICLE? Colon is ‘”within arm’s reach of Juan Marichal’s 243 wins — a record among Dominican-born hurlers”. Please inform us of how Colon will be able to pursue this record as the Mets’ eight pitcher. That would imply he would like to return as a member of the ROTATION, if it wasnt clear in my earlier message…….the Mets already have 5 starters on tap for next year.

Viva Bartolo!
I say ring him back every year on year deals for as long as he wants. Where would the Mets be without him in rotation?
Let’s say he wasn’t needed after the All Star break because of all the young pitchers they have….how great would it be having him come out of the pen whenever you want?
Never ever have too much pitching.

Mets need him again in 2017, heck, maybe even 2018 !
At his age, I would bet he does not want to keep moving around. He likes this team and organization, they like him back. He may win 15 games this year !!!
That will leave him like 10 games short of Marichal, 13 short of passing Dennis Martinez. Very doable. It is a big deal to be the winningest Dominican Pitcher and also the winningest Latino pitcher in history.
Maybe, 250 wins equals ‘Hall of Fame” discussion ?

He can do it (Marichal / Latino mark) and will do it if provided the oppty, may as well in a Mets uniform. How about a one year contract for 2017 with option kicked in for 2018 if incentives are hit..? He will perform at a high level next year going for the mark, but also is quality insurance on the assortment of injuries Mets staff is dealing with.

The kids, Lugo and Gsellman, Ynoa, Montero, may or may not be the real thing the 3rd and 4th time around vs major league hitters. If so, great, if not Mets have Bartolo. Great influence on the overall staff as well as on the bench / clubhouse not to mention fan fave.

Agree there.. Jim Kaat could never get in after just falling short of magic 300 win plateau by 17 (283 wins) and he pitched for mostly brutal teams throughout his career, except tail end of his career after his skills had diminished.

Putting the Colon types in opens the door to mediocrity .Tiant, Schilling and Clemens belong in before he does.

I think they need to bring him back because the fans absolutely love him . And he can do a lot start and pitch well. Also work as a safety net or if a pitcher needs time off . He could also work in the bullpen I would give him 1 yr 5 mil for next season if I’m the.mets and yes he was busted for PES ALLEGATIONS In 2012 with Oakland

If the Mets don’t show interest in resigning him, then perhaps the Braves would think about it. Colon has pitched quite well this season and perhaps could positively influence the young pitchers on the Braves next year. If any of their young pitchers show great progress they can always trade Colon during the season. If the price is right then there is actually little downside at all.